Help save the Gov. Dale estate

On March 12, we urge North Hampton residents to take the opportunity to do their part in an effort to conserve a historical landmark and to protect 53 acres of farmland from future development.

On March 12, we urge North Hampton residents to take the opportunity to do their part in an effort to conserve a historical landmark and to protect 53 acres of farmland from future development.

Article 7 on the town warrant asks voters to allocate $150,000 to go toward purchasing a conservation easement for the former Gov. Charles Dale farm on Post Road near Interstate 95 and the Sagamore-Hampton Golf Club.

North Hampton officials, with the aid of the Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire, a nonprofit conservation organization based in Exeter, have secured an option agreement from developer Joseph Falzone for the conservation easement to protect the land in perpetuity.

Under terms of the option, the conservation easement will be sold for 25 percent less than its appraised value, with a price not to exceed $1,782,500.

The remaining funds to complete the purchase will be coming from the North Hampton Conservation Fund and a grant of 50 percent of the appraised value of the conservation easement from the U.S. Farm and Ranchland Protection Program.

The Southeast Land Trust has committed to raising funds to complete the project.

As Conservation Commission Chairman Chris Ganotis said, the warrant article is not just about buying a conservation easement — it's an investment in the future of North Hampton.

But we would also argue its an investment in preserving the town's past.

The Gov. Dale estate was just named to the New Hampshire's state Register of Historic Places.

For those who may not know the namesake of the property, Charles Dale served as mayor of Portsmouth, state Senate president, executive councilor, and was governor from 1945 to 1949.

Mary Kate Ryan, of the Division of Historical Resources, said the Gov. Charles Dale estate shows the evolution of a 19th-century working farm into a 20th century "gentleman's farm," or estate.

But in addition to the history, it's among the small number of highly visible properties in North Hampton that define the rural character that the town is known for.

It's hard to imagine driving by and not seeing the historic barn and surrounding fields — two-thirds of which is composed of prime farm soils.

The contribution to protect this land from a voter standpoint is minimal, as it equates to a one-time payment of about $60 for taxpayers who own a $400,000 home.

A small price for the alternative.

If voters reject the article, the land will likely become the new home of a 49-unit, partially workforce housing project.

Falzone said if the easement is not approved he would move forward with the project.

But he would do so reluctantly.

"In my heart, I felt it should be protected," Falzone told the Hampton Union in December.

And let's be honest, Falzone could probably make a lot more money developing the property.

He purchased the land for approximately $1.8 million in June, but is now offering it to the town at a lower cost.

Ganotis said if the article does not pass, it is highly likely that the workforce housing project will be developed on the site, which will end up costing taxpayers more.

"The impact will be between a $133 and a $282 increase in everyone's property taxes (each year)," Ganotis said. "There would be additional costs (to taxpayers) coming from the additional town services (from departments such as police, fire and public works that would need to respond to provide services at that development)."

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